Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: October 7 * The Racing Biz

MID-ATLANTIC THREE STARS: october 7

John Piassek
October 7, 2024

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s a look at the “three stars” of each track:

Region’s Best

Boat’s a Rockin won the Saturday feature at tbe Meadowlands. Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

FIRST STAR: BOAT’S A ROCKIN. Saturday’s feature at the Meadowlands, a starter allowance sprint for horses who had started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less at any point in their careers, pitted stakes winner Smithwick’s Spice against stakes-placed Boat’s a Rockin. The latter, most recently fourth in the Parx Dash, went off as the 11-10 favorite in the six-horse field, while the former, a two-time stakes winner against Jersey-breds over the summer at Monmouth Park, was the 13-10 second choice. Boat’s a Rockin proved best, as he opened up a clear early lead and proved impossible to catch. He hit the wire in front by 2 1/2 lengths, for his third win of the year in seven starts and his 13th lifetime win in 49 career tries. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by M3 Racing Stable, trained by Brandon Kulp, and ridden by Samuel Marin.

SECOND STAR: GRAY’S FABLE. Third-level grass routers took center stage in Thursday’s feature at Delaware Park. Gray’s Fable, a three-time stakes winner earlier in his career, but unplaced in the Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes last out, pulled a mild 6-1 upset. He saved ground towards the back of the pack in the early stages, then angled off the rail in the stretch and chased down early leader Ocean City to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He covered 1 1/16 miles on a firm grass course in 1:42.87, for his eighth lifetime win in 37 starts. His career earnings now stand at $647,997. Carol Cedeno was aboard on Thursday for owners Steve Goldfine, Kari Provost, and Jeff Zlonis and trainer Mike Stidham.

THIRD STAR: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. Martinez turned a riding hat trick at Parx on Monday. He started his day with a victory, guiding home Stay Opportunistic to victory in race 2 for trainer Howard Brown. After back-to-back defeats, he rebounded to win race 5 aboard Juan Guerrero-trained Olliemeister. He then prevailed in race 6 aboard Fast Bob, trained by Richard Vega, and completed the grand slam in race 8 on Jamie Ness trainee Mo Rewards. Martinez sits in eighth place in the Parx rider standings, with 42 wins from 336 mounts.

Laurel Park

Cathy Schmidt to receive Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award
Cathy Schmidt, founder and Executive Director of Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, has been selected as the 2024 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award recipient.

FIRST STAR: SMOOTH FLYIN MIKE. Made his second start off a year-long layoff a winning one, prevailing in a second-level sprint on Thursday over favorite Easy Action.

SECOND STAR: SPENCERIAN. Improved to 3-for-3 on the year with a dominant win against first-level rivals later on the Thursday program.

THIRD STAR: DAZE. Promising Maryland-bred 2-year-old filly improved to 2-for-2 lifetime with a dominant win against first-level rivals on Saturday.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: GREY’S FABLE. Called on all his class to beat a salty field on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: PARADISE VALLEY. Battled on the pace and drew off to win a second-level sprint on Friday.

THIRD STAR: TAKE CHARGE CHLOE. Earned her second win in a row on Wednesday, taking a second-level sprint for fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths after contesting the early pace.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ROYAL PAIN. Came from well off the pace and won a first-level route by 5 1/4 lengths on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: NO JUDGEMENT. Prevailed in an exciting allowance win on Friday, for his fourth win of the year, but his first since May.

THIRD STAR: HEY BOOTS. Led for every step in a starter allowance dash on Friday, for his second straight win and third victory of the season.

Meadowlands

FIRST STAR: BOAT’S A ROCKIN. Rocked his way to a sharp victory on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: QUEEN TAPITURE. Came from off the pace to win a first-level sprint on Friday in a 27-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: SAMUEL MARIN. Boat’s a Rockin was one of his three Saturday winners; he’s now 9-for-29 on the meet and leads the rider standings by five with three days to go.